Volleyball Standout Named to All-America Team

UT Dallas senior setter Niki Calverley has become the University’s first volleyball player and only the third student-athlete in the school’s history to be named to an All-America first team.

Niki Calverley

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) chose Calverley as one of 14 players for the NCAA Division III first team on Tuesday. Sophomore Dana Hilzendager received an honorable mention.

Calverley led the American Southwest Conference this season and ranked second in NCAA Division III with 11.55 assists. The Wylie native added 2.49 digs and 0.42 blocks per set while ranking second on the squad with 27 service aces.

This is the second “first” for Calverley and the Comets this season. She was named the AVCA D-III National Player of the Week on Oct. 12, becoming the the first UT Dallas player to earn the honor and just the second player from the ASC to be recognized.

Calverley joins former men’s soccer player Trent Abbott and former golfer Scott Maurer as the only other first team All-Americans in UT Dallas history. Abbott was named to first team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of American in 2002. Maurer was a first-team pick in 2004 by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

UT Dallas boasts six All-Americans in school history. Joining Calverley, Abbott and Maurer were former men's basketball player Scott Rodgers (second team, 2010) and former baseball player Brett Rosen (second team, 2007) and former men's golfer Peyton Cook (second team, 2004).